ABSTRACT
Of the various methods of ground investigation currently practised worldwide, the standard penetration test (SPT) remains the most popular and widely used in situ testing technique. Primarily recommended for granular soils and other ground conditions in which it is difficult to sample and test in the laboratory or to perform other in situ tests, the SPT is being used for preliminary exploration in virtually any ground condition. Additionally, it provides assessment of soil properties, foundation design parameters and liquefaction potential. The simplicity, low cost and robustness of its method of driving a split-barrel sampler into the ground from the bottom of a pre-bored hole partially explains its wide acceptance.
